A podcast all about Japanese cartoons and comics as discussed by three self-proclaimed experts in the world of anime and manga! Plus anime news / reviews, coverage of classic anime, hentai / yaoi, and much, much more. Updated every week. We hope.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

The deadly experiment continues! This time it's Gerald's turn to pick the titles for everyone to review. He's chosen Kekko Kamen for Daryl and Butt Attack Punisher Girl Gautaman for Clarissa. But he's taken the heavy burden of Yukikaze upon himself.

Introduction (0:00 - 21:09)
Gerald was not met with much approval over his review of Kemonozume last episode. Daryl reiterates why we'll never be popular on the Internet by pointing out our lack of a quantitative value system, and Clarissa confesses to not knowing much about Takarazuka revue on account that she doesn't feel like spending $300 on one DVD. 3 emails down! That leaves 436 in the Inbox.

Let's News! (21:09 - 43:01)
Notes forthcoming. But we were probably responding to what Egan Loo, One Man Pillar of Internet Anime Fandom, posted on www.animenewsnetwork.com. Also, at some point we answer an email from a pedophile about the lack of availability of Giant Robo OST 5.

Review: Yukikaze (43:01 - 1:33:32)
Notes and perhaps screenshots forthcoming, but really. All you need to know about this is the following: Gonzo made it.

The remaining reviews are already recorded and edited. But hey, we'll have to talk about whatever happens at Anime Expo anyway. We'll include them with that.

Screw quantitative review. We do one on my podcast in a five star system so that's pretty much the same as not having one as most things that aren't utter shit just get something between a 3 and a 4. If you feel like capitulating for the sake of popularity I'd say go with that. It's done wonders for us.

Gerald-What about the plane designs? You didn't even like that aspect?

Haven't seen Yukikaze and I don't want to.

Daryl-Please don't call wah a pedo just because he like young anime girls. A pedo likes actual children.

Also I hope Clarissa chooses Strike Witches for you to watch. It's actually good.

About that Raoh Gaiden TV series. Why are they releasing something with little to no fanfare? Look, I bought the FOTNS movie from Discotek because it's a nice piece that was INDICATIVE of the time of its creation. Anything made now that still looks like that is out of place. I think people need to accept that trends and styles change. Moe just happens to be the thing of now.

Really, Daryl, you're pathetic. Deleting a perfectly good comment ? Yeah, thats really argumentative of you. I was quite amazed that all three of you were dumb enough not to recognize a perfectly good show.

Listened to podcast again...you guys really have no clue, do you ? You never read any "hard" sci-fi classics ? Saimak ? Lem ? Anyone ? Did you expect army men to behave like Sagara when off duty ? Do you have any knowledge, however basic, about military planes or CG production ?Sorry, but you're undisputedly idiots, the three of you.

Also, you mention the anthropomorphization moe thing started with Mave-chan. Not true. Ever see Miki Akitaka and his Mobile Suit Girls drawings from the 80's-early 90's which also spawned Galaxy Fraulein Girl Yuna.

My Sky Crawlers feature is in the latest issue of Otaku USA magazine, on shelves now. It's the one with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood on the cover, the writeup for which is also by me.

Screw quantitative review. We do one on my podcast in a five star system so that's pretty much the same as not having one as most things that aren't utter shit just get something between a 3 and a 4.

But the five star system and the letter grade system are pretty much equivalent, and between the two are exceedingly commonplace. If you don't like it, then why keep using it?

Two things, Karry. One, in the event that "undisputably" is actually a real word, it does not mean what you think it does. Two, the last time you told us how much we sucked, I requested that you send us something elaborating on exactly why that is the case so that I could fix it. For the record, I never did get that from you.

As for "not wanting to be argumentative": the deleted comment simply said "what you REALLY need to know is its a great show, DESPITE whoever made it," without offering any reasons as to why that is the case. As the Flying Circus bit so famously said, that isn't an argument. It's just contradiction. [Preemptive note: you are not clever if you start replying with Python quotes. That's all been driven into the ground since the 1990s.]

So if you actually do want to detail what's good about this show and aren't just trying to bait people, please point out what is good about this show and why what we are saying is inaccurate. Are you saying the story is good? That the characters are interesting? That the combat scenes are exciting and visually engaging? That the price tag on this Blu-Ray set is justified? If so, why? The closest to an actual substantive claim is that VZ insinuated that the plane designs are good. On this point I disagree, and here's why:

Ignoring the fact that they're phallic to a degree beyond that of typical planes, they all look extremely similar to one another and by and large all have a very similar color scheme. This is presumably done "because it's realistic," but the "hilarious" fake name someone else opted to sign their post with reminds me of something else I didn't like because the machines all look the same and share a color scheme. I don't like it when the realism aspect is taken so far that it's detrimental to the aesthetic "cool" factor: I wouldn't want to own a Yukikaze plane model any more than I would want a model from Gasaraki. The majority of mecha fans are with me on this: if they were not, then those things would be more popular than they are.

The planes don't look neat "because it's realistic." The planes don't do any cool manuevers "because it's realistic." The planes don't have any badass superweapons "because it's realistic." I can only conclude that military realists are the bane of entertainment.

Criticizing Fist of the North Star for how it looks is a silly thing to do, all animation has it's specific style. That is how the manga looked, that is how the animation will look. Just because it was animated recently doesn't mean the character designs should all be changed to resemble 12 year olds. Plenty of things get released over here with little or no fanfare, for better or worse, but I'm just glad for once its something I like.

I dunno, I'd rather not go by my real name on the internet because I enjoy employment. I'd rather the first thing people find when they Google my name not be the sorts of things written by "wildarmsheero." And yeah, I'm fine with living as wildarmsheero. I can live with the mistakes of my youth. wah's just cooler. I can change what I do, but I can't change what you do!!

Man, Yukikaze. One time when I was in vacation in Martha's Vineyard with my family, the house we rented for some reason a had ton of anime screener copies, with one of them being Yukikaze. I remember being really... underwhelmed, but that was before I really knew what was good and bad, but still. Shit was boring.

That said, I'm fairly indifferent when it comes to Gonzo. They've done a few shows I've genuinely liked, and some total utter crap that I hated. What they really need to stick with is the moe stuff, since they do that incredibly well. Since the AWO is understandably not the target of these shows, it's understandable that you don't appreciate them, but amongst the fanbase Strike Witches and Saki are fairly well received, and similarly well-made and entertaining.

Oh, and thanks for the info on Giant Robo OST 5. I figured it may be something like that, but wondered if there was more to it. Was there not much of a gap between 6 and 7, though? I mean, I got OST 6 for really cheap, and 7 can be found online for near the original retail price.

A word on Yukikaze (Since I'm the one who translated the blood thing.)

It's a typical Gonzo production, which means it has a ton of potential and no payoff at all. I remember commenting when I'd finished the final episode that the director had forgotten one thing: to remind we the viewers why we should give a crap about this mopey, nearly-autistic fighter pilot and his (gay?) lover. It has some neat action sequences, and I like the episode with Tomahawk John, the indian who turns out to be a JAM replicant, but it was not a good OAV.

However...

I'm currently translating the original novel that Yukikaze was based on, and... Well, it's good. It's really entertaining, with this long build-up about the nature of the aliens and their relationship to the humans and (more importantly) the humans' machines, as well as some great characters and some outright funny and tragic stuff that happens.

NONE OF WHICH EVER MAKES IT INTO THE ANIME!

Seriously, the further I get in the novel, the angrier I get at how terribly Gonzo adapted this book. I mean, the first chapter has this bizarre and funny story about how sociopathic Boomerang squadron is that it's easier to build androids to act as an honor guard for a visiting general than to just get the men to show up on a parade ground. Of course, their audioanimatronic soldiers start malfunctioning in front of the completely befuddled general while the base TV station is running snarky comments in a text crawl along the bottom of the TV broadcast of the visit. It's honestly funny in a way which the anime just isn't.

So, yeah, Yukikaze. Bad anime, good book. It'll be published by somebody in the near future. Look for it. And no, I didn't just post this to plug the book. I just wanted to defend it against any comparisons with the anime.

To its credit the titular Yukikaze airplane does do some pretty crazy moves in either incarnation when when it did a 180 slide to shoot down a pursuing nuke or that hop off the carrier. And believe or not the planes are what bring people to the show. Bandai's still cranking out models of them in various sizes.

Indeed, as with most Gonzo productions, the best use for Yukikaze is grist for the AMV mill.

As for the plane designs:

1) In my opinion, the most interesting design in the show is the good guys' cannon-fodder plane (the FFR-31). It looks like something that would actually get built, as opposed to the impressionist monstrosities that they used for everything else.

2) Phallic? Oh jeez. If you think that Yukikaze's designs are phallic then you've got some pretty fucked-up notions about what a penis looks like.

****

Neil: Cool news about the novel! I'll put it on my list. Are you going to do "Sky Crawlers" next?

I actually know two people who, at one point or another, really really liked (or perhaps still like) Yukikaze. One of them is a huge mecha/plane guy (and I suspect he's a listener, so if you're reading this, HI KEN IN ILLINOIS) and another who just hates most anime in general now and mostly reads manga instead.

I'm also kind of tempted to go through old Comiket catalogs now to see what was in them for any Yukikaze fandom. I'm sure something had to exist, but who knows which side produced the most material...

What disturbs me the most about Studio Gonzo is that they seem to be getting most of their success, by and large, from American fans. Aside from Strike Witches, Gonzo's shows have all been unsuccessful in Japan, while in America, shows like Trinity Blood, Hellsing, and Afro Samurai have sold very well. Once again, American anime fandom disappoints me. Aside from Last Exile, Gankutsuou, and Romeo X Juliet, nothing else Gonzo's made is worth touching.

Also, concerning the state of Yukikaze fandom in America, I can confirm 3 unique writers of Yukikaze fanfiction on Fanfiction.net. Ending on a somewhat more positive note, I can also confirm that Legend of the Galactic Heroes fanfiction is more prominent than Yukikaze fanfiction (a whopping 11 stories, as opposed to 3), so, all hope is not yet lost, I suppose.

I enjoyed it, and so did several people I know. I don't know, it seems to be a show that has people divided; I've seen a lot of people who really like it, and a lot of people that really don't like it at all. I happen to be in the former category.

So Viz is nucking futs to give a multiple release approach to OP, since it's clearly not as popular as Naruto, even with FUNi's uncut version of the show. Anyway, there were more people who saw Tokyo Explorers at the AX video room than there were who purchased the dvds and BDs. I think they even "got" some of the uniquely Japanese 20th century subculture in-jokes which would have made it impossible for this thing to make its money back, even if it was sold on the cheap. [But Carl might get a kick out of it, I guess.] But it's just sad that the one recent Otomo-based movie I can stand is the one he had no involvement in, this time. But I'm currently crossing my fingers that the LA Mushishi will still have more going for it than the manga after volume 4 or 5. Why do I feel that, if it was set in the modern era, Ginko would be updating his live-journal, making fun of the people he "cured"?

As for Yukikaze, it looks like they took all the leftover CG fighter plane footage from Macross Plus, and made it into an OVA. If you need plane porn, just help ADV's ass out and buy the Area 88 tv show and OVA.

VZ: "Anything made now that still looks like that is out of place."

Then I guess that's why Street Fighter 4 is such a disaster for Capcom. Oh, wait!

"I think people need to accept that trends and styles change. Moe just happens to be the thing of now."

Um, I saw more people lining up to play Tatsunoko V. Capcom and buying up old DVDs at AX than I did in cosplay for Suck-ass Star. [Yeah, I know I inadvertently came up with a potentially offensive doujin with that epithet, but it's still fitting.] Haruhi's as big as that genre's gonna get here, and that's because it has to do with the sci-fi aspects that series lifted from UY.

Daryl: "That the price tag on this Blu-Ray set is justified? If so, why?"

Like Jin-Roh, you can still get Yukikaze on dvd for a lot cheaper than on BD.

halojones: My second worst anime is Kite, which is preceded by Evangelion. I've been redeemed on the former title by the guy not doing any notable shit since then, but Anno keeps getting a pass, in spite of that sex hamster anime and the live-action Cutey Honey. What's up with that?

As for up-conversion, I hear that's what they gave us for the Akira BD... :(

Thanks for steering me away from Yukikaze... although I probably wouldn't go for it anyway because the only planes I'm interested in are ones that exist in Macross(thus are awesome), or are piloted by Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer.

I must state that several years ago I showed the first episode of Yukikaze to my anime class at Pixar.

They did not find the CG animation all that good, until they saw the documentary footage that showed the equipment Gonzo used, they were impressed by that. Then that may account why it took so long to make.

Final comment, you can have the prettiest, flashiest visuals and if your story sucks the whole show sucks.

I think this is the first review on the podcast where I think you managed to miss the point of the series entirely. Yukikaze is primarily about the blurring line between man and machine as symbolised by the close relationship Rei and the plane share. The JAM seem to be a machine intelligence of some kind and are fascinated by the linking of the organic with the machine.

So yeah, I'll stand up and be counted as someone who really liked this show and would want to see more of it. You can see the reviews I did of each DVD here :-

http://www.khantazi.org/Rec/Anime/Yukikaze1.html

http://www.khantazi.org/Rec/Anime/Yukikaze2.html

http://www.khantazi.org/Rec/Anime/Yukikaze3.html

Arguing that the series has absolutely no redeeming qualities makes me wonder if we watched the same series.

PS The name Yukikaze was chosen because it was the name of a destroyer that survived every naval conflict it was involved in during WW2 and earned the reputation as being the 'unsinkable' Yukikaze.

Does any one know if there are more the 29 chapters of Ressentiment out there? I have bin looking and I have not cum up with mutch. I will be the first to admit that my skill's on the internet are pritty limeted through. Well if any one knows where i could even get raws that would be grate thx D.ROSSI

"Yukikaze is primarily about the blurring line between man and machine..."

Gosh, it would have been nice if the series had DONE ANYTHING WITH THAT AT ALL. Instead, it was just "guy with no personality occasionally flies a plane." If you get anything else than that, then it's something you made up. Sure, the anime hints at more going on behind the scenes, but it does fuck-all to actually convey any of that to the viewer.

Every time I see the word Gonzo in an anime, I keep hoping it turns out to be the Muppet. I am always so, so disappointed.

Only once have I been impressed by Gonzo in regards to their CG, and that was Gankutsuou. I thought the way they used textures to render the coloring of their clothes and what not looked really neat, although whenever they got to the giant robots it looked kind of dumb. It always seemed like whenever Gonzo would talk about how awesome their CG was, they really wanted you to think they were Production IG.

Even when they were/are so clearly aren't.

Also if we are going to wander around with our review scales hanging out, I feel that our "How many awesomes out of awesome (or OSM, if you prefer)" scale is the best. It allows you to use as many numbers and items as you wish, to both great effect and no effect at all, at the same time.

I was just saying that you can use a "common place" system that really has quite a bit of wiggle room, in terms of rating. Five stars allows you to appear quantitative for the sake of listeners you feel would appreicate that sort of thing, while still allowing for a more subjective take.

"Five stars allows you to appear quantitative for the sake of listeners you feel would appreicate that sort of thing, while still allowing for a more subjective take."

Eh, I'd rather they not use some rating system. It's their style, and it's more mentally satisfying than 6.8 out of 10. It just becomes meaningless after a while, although I can see why some people like using them.

Or they could just cut down on the show lengths by talking about news and then going..."Gankutsuou: 8.7 out of 10. This podcast is over."

I rooted around on Google about Ressentiment. Apparently one of the groups is now dead (MangaScreener, haven't updated their site since oct 2008) and the other is apparently stuck under a massive pile of work.

However, I'm going to Japan in August, and I'm probably going to buy some anime and manga for translating. Ressentiment is definitely one of my major priorities, along with Midnight Eye Goku. If anyone is willing to translate for me, I could help finish translating the rest of the manga...

All the discussion of the release of Yukikaze by Bandai Visual USA reminds me of Blue Submarine No.6, because it's the same pattern.

Recall that Bandai Visual/Emotion in Japan had just rolled up the failed Animevillage.com concept and was sending product to stores still under the Animevillage label, still somewhat pretending that they weren't REALLY Bandai, just these guys, you know? This was just before Gundam Wing hit Cartoon Network and Bandai Entertainment Inc superseded the Animevillage brand.

Blue Sub 6 was based on a famous manga (and I think novel series?), it was a high prestige project, and it was 30 f'sking bucks per 1 episode tape.

Of course, America has NO CLUE what Blue Sub 6 is, and it just basically sat there. And yes, I think it suffers from the Gonzo Curse.

So, it's nothing new, it's just Bandai doing what they always do, over and over and over.

"Gosh, it would have been nice if the series had DONE ANYTHING WITH THAT AT ALL."

I partially agree. The series hints quite a bit and does develop it as the central reason the JAM are so interested in Rei and Yukikaze. However, as I put into my reviews linked above, I would have liked to see more of the series to explore both the issue of what the JAM want and Rei's relationship with his plane.

"If you get anything else than that, then it's something you made up. Sure, the anime hints at more going on behind the scenes, but it does fuck-all to actually convey any of that to the viewer."

You are kinda contradicting yourself here. An anime cannot have something I made up if it also, by your own admission, hints at what is going on. Clearly the makers of the show expect a degree of interpretation to be done by the viewer and I certainly can agree that they under utilised the concepts presented in the series. This is why I say I'd have liked more episodes of the series...

I know it's "the internet" and all, but I can't help but getting surprised at the lengths people will go to argue about such mediocre things, but apparently most people don't demand much out of their entertainment, people just love average crap.

If you like Yukikaze that's fine, but I hope none of its defenders think they're going to change the minds of those who dislike it. I guess we'll see if episode 81b ends up being the apology episode wherein the AWO crew issues a new review, thus negating the original, that praises the brilliance of Yukikaze.

"I know it's 'the internet' and all, but I can't help but getting surprised at the lengths people will go to argue about such mediocre things,..."

Says the person posting to an anime reviews and opinions podcast blog. :) Sturgeon's law being applicable then most of what gets talked about here is going to be mediocre even before we bias for this particular series of torture reviews being experimented with.

"...but apparently most people don't demand much out of their entertainment, people just love average crap."

Based on Geralds review I'd expect the haters to be saying Yukikaze is anything but average crap. Indeed it could be argued that by calling it average crap you are more agreeing with the fans of the series than anything else.

"If you like Yukikaze that's fine, but I hope none of its defenders think they're going to change the minds of those who dislike it."

No, the aim isn't to convince the haters otherwise. Simply to provide some opinion and comment contrary to the review. You know, feedback n'all.

"I guess we'll see if episode 81b ends up being the apology episode wherein the AWO crew issues a new review, thus negating the original, that praises the brilliance of Yukikaze."

You mean to say you berate people arguing about the little things to then simply get a cheap sarcastic shot in? Pot calling the kettle black here perhaps?

Slightly more seriously I half wonder if the issue is more that those who don't like the series prefer character driven stories whereas Yukikaze is more of a plot driven affair where character development takes a firm backseat to the story.

Still this is getting to a point where a blog feedback area isn't wildly suitable. Feel free to email me if you want to continue with actual discussion.

Sturgeon's law being applicable then most of what gets talked about here is going to be mediocre even before we bias for this particular series of torture reviews being experimented with.

By all means, go on over to the Review Index and then tell me the 90% of the anime we've reviewed to date that are crap! The fact of the matter is that we don't bother to even talk about that other stuff.

Arguing that the series has absolutely no redeeming qualities makes me wonder if we watched the same series.

Considering that your AnimeOnDVD.com-style reviews describe the show as not having overly angsty main characters...yes, I can only conclude that you did indeed not watch the same series as everybody else because this show positively drowns in angst. In addition, your argument that the lack of greater exploration of any plot/character element raised is an invitation for the viewer to draw their own interpretations is seriously shoddy and one I cannot begin to agree with. After all, the exact same argument could be made in defense of Roots Search.

Liking a show for "what it could be" instead of "what it actually is" is not a unique phenomenon among anime fans. Hell, the entire Weiss Kreuz fanbase is built upon that mentality. But I don't accept it as constructive--or rational--behavior. I can understand people defending Yukikaze because they like the original print material (like Neil). Heck, I can even see people sticking up for it because of the overly blah mecha designs that do nothing for me personally (like Andrew). But defending the anime series itself is a tall, tall order. Per your (Philip) very own words, everything you've offered forth as praise for the anime itself isn't actually there in the show. All that's there is a seedling of a hint.

There is no insight into the symbiosis of man and machine offered here. There is no tale of a "hard-boiled hero," no examination of society's viewpoint regarding a prolonged war, no examination of the enemy force and how similar/different they are from us. None of this is in the show itself as presented. Oh sure, there COULD have been something cool here. They could have easily done something good with these ideas...but they did not.

Having the potential to be good is one thing. Actually pulling it off is another. This is why I despise Gonzo so much: almost everything they make could conceivably be excellent yet fails to be. Yukikaze's just one more name on the list. It's not worth having intense feelings for either way, like it or hate it. And therefore, it should be watched by nobody.

Let me put it this way: I would rather rewatch the 50 episodes of Gundam SEED: Destiny than the 5 episodes of Yukikaze.

"By all means, go on over to the Review Index and then tell me the 90% of the anime we've reviewed to date that are crap! The fact of the matter is that we don't bother to even talk about that other stuff."

By your own admission quite a few of the shows you review are reviewed as warnings to save other people from watching them. Or because you want to ridicule the series. It is also a truism that tastes vary so yeah, quite a few of things you review I steer clear of because I know from the review I'd hate them.

You seem to be getting defensive and taking this as a slight on the quality of the reviewing and selection of the series themselves. Which it certainly isn't a comment on.

"There is no insight into the symbiosis of man and machine offered here."

Insight, no. Exploration of the concept I'd argue yes.

"There is no tale of a "hard-boiled hero,"

Out of interest, where is this comment coming from because I never actually said he was a hard-boiled hero in my reviews?

"no examination of society's viewpoint regarding a prolonged war,"

The reporter explicitly tells us that her focus on the fighting with the JAM isn't getting press because people back home view the fighting as a distant abstract that bores them. That the home defenders, because they haven't been keeping up with the escalating fighting on Fairy itself, get over-run easily by a small JAM sortie requiring Yukikaze and Rei's help. Both are definitely in the series and are comments about the nature of a prolonged war conducted at a safe remove. By all means gig them as being facile, lightweight or under explored but to deny they exist at all and to imply that such is being invented into the series is simply displaying more your selective viewing of the series than anything else.

This is why I think both you and Gerald may have missed the point of the series.

"no examination of the enemy force and how similar/different they are from us."

Again the last two episodes do go into this explicitly with people realising that the JAM have a direct interest in Yukikaze and Rei. Certainly I'll agree the series isn't explicit in laying it out and as I have said there is room to explore the idea in much more depth. But I do disagree with you that the notion is not there at all.

"None of this is in the show itself as presented. Oh sure, there COULD have been something cool here. They could have easily done something good with these ideas...but they did not."

Certainly unless you are prepared to concede that they did indeed to some degree place those concepts into the series then we simply will have to agree to disagree on this point. That said thanks for taking the time to read the reviews.

Uh just to set the record straight, I don't actually like the designs in Yukikaze. When it comes to crazy fake airplanes (that don't turn into robots) I'd rather look at the Ace Combat stuff. I was just trying to point out that there are apparently people who will pay upwards of 4000 yen for a plastic Yukikaze kit and even 12800 yen for resin kits of the background fighters that just die in order to make the Yukikaze look good.

Thanks, The Moogle Master! Since I've been living under a rock for the past couple of weeks, I was completely unaware that every news outlet in the world has been so completely packed with story after story about Michael Jackson, that they can be safely ignored.

I'm constantly trying out clever plans to ingratiate myself into an episode of Anime World Order. So far, all of these plans have met with catastrophic failure. I suspect Daryl, Clarissa, and Gerald all know that my truly allegiance rests with the Robo / Dino Empire...

I'm constantly trying out clever plans to ingratiate myself into an episode of Anime World Order. So far, all of these plans have met with catastrophic failure.

With all due respect...that...isBULLSHIT! Oh sure, there are no actual reviews taking place there. But that's only because the only anime we know you to have seen is Moon Phase, Samurai Deeper Kyo, and other such filth. Come up with three WORTHY anime series to review, sir, and you shall be permitted entrance to the kingdom! Much like how Ken Nabbe must be told "no, Transformers: The Movie doesn't count," we must tell you "no, The Last Unicorn doesn't count."

As for the new Chick tract, that's nowhere near the most ridiculous. For one, not a single person gets cast into the lake of fire by angels, not even that GODLESS SURGEON who saved the dude's life.

The lack of Lake of Fire chucking is the only thing that stops "Lisa" from being the ULLLLLLTIMATE Chick tract. That's the one where jobless Daddy watches porno and rapes his 5 year-old daughter Lisa. Then the neighbor shows up and starts watching porno with him. And joins in with raping Lisa. The wife, aware of this, opts to STAND BY HER MAN~! rather than break the family apart because her uncle rizzaped her too, which is why she actually beats the shit out of Lisa on a regular basis. It turns out that 5 year-old Lisa's got herpes and various other grievous injuries from being raped and beaten on a regular basis, but it's okay because the NOT GODLESS doctor informs the father that Jesus died for their sins. And therefore, everything's okay.

For some reason, that one's not sold anymore or listed on the website! Oh well. At least "Somebody Goofed" remains.

Hey, I'll argue that Yukikaze is good, within the bounds of what it's trying to do. And yeah, I'll sign my name. I have yet to listen to this podcast, so I'm not sure what the criticisms are (though I can imagine a few.) Downloading now!

TJ said... What disturbs me the most about Studio Gonzo is that they seem to be getting most of their success, by and large, from American fans. Aside from Strike Witches, Gonzo's shows have all been unsuccessful in Japan, while in America, shows like Trinity Blood, Hellsing, and Afro Samurai have sold very well. Once again, American anime fandom disappoints me.

Sad to think the fans around here would go for their work at all when they might not really know what quality is!

Gilles Poitras said... I must state that several years ago I showed the first episode of Yukikaze to my anime class at Pixar.

Surprised they had one there now!

They did not find the CG animation all that good, until they saw the documentary footage that showed the equipment Gonzo used, they were impressed by that. Then that may account why it took so long to make.

Either that, or during that five year period they already managed to get the first episode out halfway through and then got it all done before the final batch made it to print.

Final comment, you can have the prettiest, flashiest visuals and if your story sucks the whole show sucks.

Heh, hasn't Pixar said that already? :-)

halojones-fan said... Gosh, it would have been nice if the series had DONE ANYTHING WITH THAT AT ALL. Instead, it was just "guy with no personality occasionally flies a plane." If you get anything else than that, then it's something you made up. Sure, the anime hints at more going on behind the scenes, but it does fuck-all to actually convey any of that to the viewer.

Judging by some of the comments already here, it seems like a waste for someone coming in expecting something good out of this just to see an autistic-like guy battling aliens in planes that are rendered realistically but not having a clue as to the point of the matter unless you bother to read the book/s these were from just to feel better about it.

Basil said... Every time I see the word Gonzo in an anime, I keep hoping it turns out to be the Muppet. I am always so, so disappointed.

By this point, anything 'gonzo' would be an improvement if it meant they went gung ho in the production end of things, but I guess they still rather do things by-the-book (oh wait, they didn't, silly me)!

Steve Harrison said...Recall that Bandai Visual/Emotion in Japan had just rolled up the failed Animevillage.com concept and was sending product to stores still under the Animevillage label, still somewhat pretending that they weren't REALLY Bandai, just these guys, you know? This was just before Gundam Wing hit Cartoon Network and Bandai Entertainment Inc superseded the Animevillage brand.

How could we forget!

So, it's nothing new, it's just Bandai doing what they always do, over and over and over.

Ho-hum, business as usual they say!

TJ said... 13 experimental films directed by Osamu Tezuka are going to be released on Region 1 DVD at the end of the month. Here's the obligatory ANN article, for those who care to read on.

Finally someone has a head for once, and obvious from a company well-suited to this material! From the looks of it, this is pretty much the same comp. of material that was previously released in Japan and in Australian (sans the audio commentaries on selected films Madman provided their release with). The 18 minute interview might also include the pencil-test version of "Jumping" as well, having seen that back when I had to get a nith-gen copy of the LD that was released of some of Tezuka's shorts a decade back.

One of these days if I ever see a 16mm copy of Jumping get put on eBay, I'll be on it in a heartbeat!

Actually, one final note - one of your comments I missed and feel it is worth replying a little to. You (Daryl) said this :-

"Considering that your AnimeOnDVD.com-style reviews describe the show as not having overly angsty main characters..."

Which is interesting in that it isn't what I said at all. I said it lacked the usual low grade romantic triangle drama. Which is not at all saying the serious lacks angst. It merely lacks the usual romantic triangle angst.

Combine that with the whole charge that I describe Rei as a "hard boiled hero" when I said no such thing tells me that you are reacting more to a counter argument that you have constructed than what was said.